Boston Music History Guided Bus Tour

Ride through Boston’s music history with a local musician as your guide. Discover the venues, studios, record stores, and neighborhoods that helped shape artists from Aerosmith and the Cars to Joan Baez, Pixies, and Tracy Chapman.

• Explore Boston’s punk legacy in Kenmore Square
• Discover recording history connected to Aerosmith, the Cars, and Jonathan Richman
• Trace folk roots through Harvard Square
• End at McCarthy’s Irish pub, a venue for live local music

Itinerary

1. The Boston Common- America’s oldest park and setting for numerous performances including the pioneering concert series affectionally known as “Summer Thing”.

2. The Theatre District/Wang- Home to many still active venues built during the early 20th century including the Wang Theatre which is home to the recently established Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame.

3. The Boston Tea Party- Original location of the house of house of worship-turned psychedelic music venue that featured the most impactful acts of its day including Led Zeppelin, the Who, Van Morrison, and the Velvet Underground.

4. Storyville- Jazz club owned by pianist George Wein where legends such as Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Billy Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, and Errol Garner played.

5. Newbury St- Bustling Back Bay commercial stretch flanked by 19th century brownstones. Original home of Newbury Comics, WBCN, Berklee College of Music, and Intermedia Studios/Synchro Sound where Aerosmith, Cars and many others recorded.

6. Kenmore Square-Nexus of Boston’s underground and punk scene in the latter part of the 20th century. Location of the Rat where numerous bands emerged out of in the 70s and 80s. Venue where Pixies first shared the same bill as the Throwing Muses.

7. Central Square/The Middle East Upstairs- Vibrant Cambridge hub for musicians featuring an array of venues including The Middle East, a key stepping stone for many post punk and alternative bands in the 80/90s including Morphine, Dinosaur Jr. Buffalo Tom, Throwing Muses, Come, Julianna Hatfield, and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

8. Harvard Square-Center of Folk Revival in New England and home to several venues including the Sinclair and legendary Club Passim where artists from Joan Baez to Tracy Chapman got their start.

9. McCarthy’s/Toad Restaurant- treasured live music venue and host to daily musical events from Irish Seisuns to Rock bands

Important details

• Arrive 15 minutes before departure
• Standard tour: ages 16+ only
• Private tour: ages 13+ only